Freight transportation system and components thereof

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a freight transportation system comprising a railway car having a deck bridging spaced-apart running gears for supporting both road semitrailers and containers on the deck, longitudinally spaced-apart pairs of longitudinally extending guide rails mounted on the deck with the guide rails in each pair being laterally spaced-apart a distance to engage and guide the inner sides of the road wheels of the road semitrailer, sets of container bolsters respectively mountable in first and second positions in the spaces between adjacent sets of guide rails and in the spaces between the outer ends of the end guide rails in adjacent end of the deck, each of the container bolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges in alignment with the outer edges of the guide rails to span the distances therebetween and to the end of the deck, the bolsters in the second positions thereof being in alignment with each other transversely of the deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon; the system also includes side transfer plates mountable between the adjacent ends of a set of container bolsters to span the space therebetween thus to permit side loading of a container onto the bolsters; two species of container bolsters are provided, one useful at the ends of the car and at the center of the car and the other useful intermediate an end of the car and the center of the car.

United States Patent [72} Inventor SamuelH.Enochian 3,272,150 9/l966Dempsteretal 105/366 Thornton,lll. 3,437,056 4/1969 OLeary IDS/368(8) gg g? 1968 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman l 23 iAttorney-Prangley,Claytn,Mullin,DithmarandVogel [73] Assignee GeneralAmerican Transportation Egg 323%: ABSTRACT: There is disclosed a freighttransportation amrporafiun New York system comprising a railway carhaving a deck bridging [S4] FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ANDspaced-apart running gears for supporting both road semitrailers andcontainers on the deck, longitudinally spacedapart pairs oflongitudinally extending guide rails mounted on COMPONENTS THEREOF thedeck with the guide rails in each pair being laterally 6 Claims, 13Drawing Figs. spaced-apart a distance to engage and guide the innersides of the road wheels of the road semitrailer, sets of container bol-521 [1.8. CI 105/366, Sm respectively mountable in first and secondposifions in I In Cl 1 i the spaces between adjacent sets of guide railsand in the [5 1 L B j 1/ spaces between the outer ends of the end guiderails i d 50 m fsear h $8 7/08 jacent end of the deck, each of thecontainer bolsters in the 1 o c first positions thereof having the outeredges in alignment with 3 24 ,1 2 6/351 the outer edges of the guiderails to span the distances I561 Rem-MM i'iiiiiiiifoiiififirii222122315325?352 322; 352? UNITED STATES PATENTStransversely of the deck for supporting one end of a freight 3,257,970 1966 utlldg container thereon; the system also includes side transferplates 3,321,162 1967 C nn rat. mountable between the adjacent ends of aset of container 2,631,335 1953 All]! 05/ bolsters to span the spacetherebetween thus to permit side 3,058,603 10/1962 g l' t 31m 105/366Xloading of a container onto the bolsters; two species of con- 3,144.8381964 a r 6t 8 /366 tainer bolsters are provided, one useful at the endsof the car 3,161,151 96 hfm II and at the center of the car and theother useful intermediate 3,168,876 2/1965 CleJan IDS/368(3) an end ofthe car and the center of the car.

3 2005] I l i 0 ilg:2io1: 1 305 i I500 200B 200A [50A L :fiiitit L L Z 5I508 1 K 10/ "A 00 I03 WEI L I02 PATENTED 1971 315521325 SHEET 2 UF 4 AH U UN.

N Ki U the container bolsters.

FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREOF The presentinvention relates to freight transportation systems, and moreparticularly to such systems utilizing a fiat deck car having guiderails fixedly mounted thereon and container bolsters shiftably mountedthereon to facilitate the carrying of both' road semitrailers andcontainers on the car.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a freighttransportation system comprising a railway car including longitudinallyspaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, a longitudinallyextending deck bridging the running gears and overlying the rail wheelsfor supporting both road semitrailers and containers, a plurality ofpairs of longitudinally extending guide rails respectively mounted onthe deck, the guide rails in each pair being laterally spaced-apart adistance so that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide theinner sides of the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on the deck,the ends of the guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of the deckbeing spaced therefrom, the ends of adjacent pairs of guide rails beinglongitudinally spaced-apart, sets of first container bolstersrespectively mountable in first and second positions in spaces betweenthe outer ends of the guide rails and the adjacent end of the deck, eachof the sets of first container bolsters in the first positions thereofhaving the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with the outeredges of the guide rails substantially to span the distance between theouter ends of the guide rails and the adjacent end of the deck andproviding guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailersmounted on the deck, the bolsters in each of the sets of first containerbolsters in the second positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with each other transversely of the deck forsupporting one end of the freight container thereon,

. and sets of second container bolsters respectively mountable in firstand second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs ofthe guide rails, each of the sets of second container bolsters in thefirst positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of the guide rails substantially to spanthe distance vbetween the ends of adjacent pairs of the guide rails andproviding guide surfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailersmounted on the deck, the bolsters in each of the sets of secondcontainer bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outeredges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely thedeck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freight transportationof the type set forth wherein side transfer plates are respectivelymountable between each of the sets of container bolsters when thecontainer bolsters are in the second positions thereof, each of the sidetransfer plates spanning the distance between the adjacent ends of theassociated set of container bolsters and having the upper surfacethereof in horizontal alignment with the upper surfaces of theassociated container bolsters to facilitate the sliding of a containeront Another object of the invention is to provide a freighttransportation system of the type set forth wherein each of thecontainer bolsters has one end thereof pivotally mounted on the deck ofthe car, whereby each container bolster is pivotally movable between thefirst and second positions thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freight transportationsystem of the type set forth wherein the railway car also carriesthereon suitable hitch mechanisms mounted between the guide rails andmovable between a storage position disposed substantially between theguide rails and an erected position wherein the hitch mechanism engagesthe fifth-wheel mechanism of a road semitrailer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved containerbolster for use in a freight transportation system of the type setforth. one form of the container bolster including a fixed retainingwall extending upwardly from a base and another form of the containerbolster including a retaining wall pivotally mounted on the base formovement between a storage position and an erected retaining position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sidetransfer pate useful in the freight transportation system of the presentinvention.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the parts of the freight transportation system and the containerbolsters and side transfer plates forming a part thereof, whereby theabove-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view'of a railway car made in accordancewith and embodying therein the principles of the present invention, thecar being illustrated with two short containers and one long containermounted thereon, the containers being illustrated in phantom lines forthe purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the railway car of FIG. 1 and showing the partsarranged to support the two short containers and the one long containerillustrated in FIG. 1, the containers again being shown in phantomlines;

- FIG. .3 is a view on an enlarged scale with certain parts broken awayalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to the right-hand portion ofFIG. 1 and illustrating the mounting on the railway car of FIG. 1 ofboth a road semitrailer and a container;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary plan view of the right-hand endof the car of FIG. 1 and illustrating in solid lines the positions ofthe parts for the mounting of a road semitrailer thereon;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical section along the line7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view on a further enlarged scaleillustrating a center bolster and the center side transfer plates inposition to receive a container thereon;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the parts of FIG. 8 with certain parts insection and other parts in additional positions to illustrate thepositions of the parts when ready to receive a container thereon;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on an enlarged scalealong the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the intermediate bolstersand the associated side transfer plates, one of the bolsters being shownin position to receive a freight container thereon;

FIG. 12 is a view in vertical section along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;and

FIG. 13 is a further enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section alongthe line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive of the drawings, the freighttransportation system there illustrated and embodying the features ofthe present invention, essentially comprises a railway car 190, twoshorter freight containers 50, a longer freight container 55 and a roadsemitrailer 60, the freight containers 50 and/or 55 and/or the roadsemitrailer 60 being selectively mountable upon the railway car 100. Thefreight containers 50 are for example 20 feet in length and eachincludes a pair of end walls 51 and a pair of sidewalls 52 and a bottomwall 53. Disposed in the bottom of the container 50 is a hollow casting54 having an opening 54a therein to receive a lock pin to be describedmore fully hereinafter. The longer freight container 55 includes a pairof end walls 56, a pair of sidewalls 57 and a bottom wall 58; asillustrated, the freight container 55 is approximately 40 feet long. Theroad semitrailer 60 includes the usual cargo carrying body 61 supportedby pairs of outer road wheels 62 and pairs of inner road wheels 63 atone end thereof and having a kingpin (not shown) at the other endthereof. As illustrated, the road semitrailer 60 has a length ofapproximately 40 feet.

The railway car 100 comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced-apartrunning gears or trucks 101 carrying flanged rail wheels 102 of standardrail guage, and an elongated center sill 103, the center sill 103extending longitudinally between and in bridging relation with thetrucks 101. The rail wheels 102 are adapted to engage the rails (notshown) of an associated railway track, and the center sill 103 is offish-belly configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Also, the centersill 103 is of composite construction, including a pair of laterallyspacedapart and longitudinally extending I-beams 104, each of the beams104 having the usual top and bottom flanges 105 and 106 and connectingweb 107. In the center sill 103, the top flanges 105 of the two l-beams104 are arranged in a substantially horizontal plane to define acorresponding substantially horizontal platform for supporting ahorizontal deck 1 20. The l-beams 104 are further'interconnected byhorizontally arranged plates 108 and vertically arranged plates 109 toprovide a strong and rigid construction, There further areprovided'outer sills in the form of I-beams 110, each of the beams 110having the usual top and bottomflangeslll and 1 12 and connecting web113. The top flanges 111 of the two I- beams 110 are arranged in asubstantially horizontal plane, and more particularly in the samehorizontal plane as the top flanges 105 on the I-beams 104. Suitablestructure, such as plates-114 interconnect the I-beams 110 to theadjacent I- 4 of therailway car 100,.while ,the inner or right-hand endsof the'endiguide rails 130Aare spacedfrom the adjacent ends of thecenter guide rails 1308 by a*predeter mined distance.

' Likewise, the outer-or right-hand'ends of the 'end -guiderails 130D,are spaced from theright-hand ends of the railway car 100 a distanceequal to that between theoti terjends of the guide rails 130A and theaforementioned or ,th ;lefthand end of the railway car'100. Also,theinner o'rlefthand ends'bf'the end guide rails130D are spaced from theadjacent ends of the center guide'rails 130C a predetermined distancqe'qual to, the distance between the adjacent ndsfof the guide rails 130A'and130BfFinally the inner ends of. the center guide rails 130B'are'spaced'from the adjacent inner ends of the center guide rails 130Cthe same predetermined distance thatthe guide rails 130A are separatedfrom the'guide rails 130Bandthat the guide 'rails 130C are separatedfrom the guide rails 130D.'

beams 104 intermediate the ends thereof, end sills (not shown) alsointerconnecting the I-bearns at the ends of the railway car 100. Therefurther is provided in each end of 'the railway car 100 a suitablecoupling mechanism 115 for connecting the car 110 in the usual railwaytrain.

The deck 120 is formed of sheetsteel and is generally rectangular inplan view as seen in FIG. 2 and has downtumed flanges .121 thereonextending therearound; suitable reinforcements being provided as at 122.Mounted upon the top of the deck 120 and extending longitudinallythereof are four pairs of longitudinally spaced-apart guide rails 130A,130B, 130C and 130D. All four pairs of the guide rails have the sameconstruction, whereby only the construction of the guide rails 1308 willbe described in detail, like reference numerals with the appropriatesuffixes being applied to the parts of the guide rails in the other setsof guide rails.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that theguide rails 1308 are laterally spaced-apart with the longitudinal axesthereof essentially parallel and are each formed essentially of aU-shaped channel including a top Wall 1318 spaced upwardly from theupper surface of the deck 120 by a pair of longitudinally extendingsidewalls 1328 on the edges of the top wall 1318 and extendingdownwardly therefrom and having the lower edges suitably secured, as bywelding, to the deck 120. Each top wall 1318 has a plurality ofrectangular openings 133B formed therein and spaced-apart equidistantlytherealong for the reception of tie-down devices. The spacing betweenthe outer surfaces of the outer walls 1328 is slightly less than thedistance between the inner surfaces of the inner ties on a roadsemitrailer, whereby the guide rails 130B serve a guiding function whenthe road semitrailer 60 is rolled onto the deck 120.

1 From FIG. 2, it will be seen that one of the guide rails in each pairof guide rails is in longitudinal alignment with one of the guide railsin each of the other pairs of guide rails, whereby one set of four ofthe guide rails are in longitudinal alignment on one side of the railwaycar 100 and the other set of four of the guide rails are in longitudinalalignment on the other side of the railway car 100, and further, theouter surfaces of the outer sidewalls 132 on each of the longitudinallyaligned sets of four guide rails are in alignment with each other andfall substantially in a common plane, thereby to provide aligned guidingsurfaces for the inner wheels 63 of the road semitrailer The outer orleft-hand ends of the end guide rails 130A, is viewed in FIG. 2, arespaced from the adjacent left-hand end Also mounted on the deck 120centrally thereof and toward the right-hand end thereofis a hitchmechanism 140, the hitch mechanism 140 beingmore particularlymounted-between the end guide rails 130D and adjacent to fhe outer orright hand ends thereof asviewed in FIG. '2; The hitchtmechanism 140more particularly includes a standard 141 pivotally mounted on the deck120 and carrying on the, upper end thereof a fifthwheel mechanism 142for ngagingthe kingpin on the asso'ciated road semitrailer 60. Adiagonal strut 143 is also provided and is pivoted to the standard 140intermediate the ends thereof and has the other end con'nected to asuitable cushioning mechanism, the hitch mechanism 140 preferably beingthat illustrated and described in the 'copending U.S.Pat. application,Ser. No. 656,884, filed on Jul. 28, l967'now U.S Pat. No. 3,497,169 bySamuel H. Enochian. A second hitch mechanism 145 is mounted on the deck120 centrally thereof and adjacentto the longitudinal center linethereof, the hitch mechanism 145 more specifically. being mountedbetween the guide rails 1308 and toward the right-handends thereof asviewed inFIG. 2. The hitch mechanism 145 includes a standard 146 havingthe lower end thereof pivoted upon the deck 140 and carrying on theupper end thereof afifth-wheel mechanism 147 for engaging the kingpin ofan associated road semitrailer. The hitch mechanism 145 also includes astrut 148 that has one end thereof pivotally connected to the standard146 intermediate the endsthere'of and having'the other end thereofconnected to a cushioning mechanism mounted on the deck 120. The hitchmechanisms 140 and 145 in the collapsed o'r retracted positions thereofextend only a short distance above the deck 120, and specifically, donot sub'stantiallyex- I tend above the tops of-the associatedguide'rails 130, see FIG.

3, wherein it will be seen that the upper surface of the retracted hitchmechanism 145 does not extend stibstantially above the top walls 1318 ofthe associated guide rails 1308. In the extended or operative positionsof the hitch mechanisms 140 and 145, the fifth-wheel mechanisms 142 and147 respectively are in positions to engage the kingpin of an associatedroad semitrailer, such as the road semitrailer 60 in FIG. 4. 2

In accordance with the present invention, it is desirable that it bepossible to end-load or circus-[0a "the road'semitrailer 60 onto'therailway ,car"l00 by backing the road semitrailer onto the railway carfrom an associated ra'mp*(not shown) or across bridging structureextending to an'adjace'nt railway guide rails 1 30. To accomplish such'inside guiding of the" wheels 63 of the road semitrailer 60 the entirelength of the railway car 100,-it is necessary; to provide guidestructure bridging the spaces between the end's'ofthe railway car '100and the adjacent ends of the guide rails A and 1301), as

well as the spaces between the adjacent ends of the guide rails, 130Aand 1308, the adjacent ends of the guide rails 1303 and 130C and theadjacent ends of the guide rails 130C and 130D. To this end, there havebeen provided end containei bol sters 150A and 1508, intermediatecontainer bolsters 200A and 2008 and center container bolsters 150C and150D which are identical in construction to the end container bolsters150A and 1508, respectively. It is pointed out that although thecontainer bolsters 150A and 150C are identical in construction, and thecontainer bolsters 1508 and 150D are identical in construction, thecontainer bolsters 150B and 150D are actually formed as the mirrorimages of the container bolsters 150A and 150C, respectively.Accordingly, like reference numerals with suitable suffixes have beenapplied to like parts in describing each of the container bolsters 150A,150B, 150C and 150D. v

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 8 to 10 of the drawings, theconstruction and operation of the center container bolster 150C will bedescribed. As illustrated in the FIGS. noted, the center containerbolster 150C extends laterally of the railway car 100 and is in thecontainer-receiving position thereof, one of the shorter freightcontainers 50 being illustrated in dashed lines associated therewith andmounted thereon. Referring specifically to FIG. 10, the center containerbolster 150C includes a generally rectangular base 151C that is ofcomposite structure. and includes a base plate 152C that is rectangularin shape and is substantially flat and adapted to rest upon the uppersurface of the associated deck 120. Extending upwardly from the baseplate 152C is an inner sidewall 153C that has integral therewith on theupper edge thereof an upper plate 154C that overlies and substantiallycovers the base plate 152C. Extending upwardly from the outer edge ofthe base plate 152C is an outer sidewall 155C that extends upwardly wellabove the upper plate 154C and terminates in' a rounded edge 156C, aninwardly and downwardly sloping guide wall 157C extending from therounded edge 156C downwardly to a vertically oriented retainer wall158C, the lower edge of the retainer wall 158 abutting against and beingfixedly secured to the upper plate 154C, such as by welding. Referringto FIG. 8, it will be seen that the outer ends of the guide wall 157Care cut back at an angle and that the outer ends of the retainer wall158C are also directed rbarwardly toward the outer sidewall as at 159C.There is thus provided a hollow base 151C within and upon which all ofthe other parts of the center container bolster 150C are mounted.

One end of the center container bolster 150C is pivotally secured to thedeck 120 by means of a pivot pin 160C, see FIG. 9 of the drawings. Asillustrated, the adjacent end of the hollow base 151C is closed by anend wall 161C and also disposed within the hollow base 151C is a bearingblock 162C, the bearing block 162C being fixedly secured within thehollow base 151C, as by welding. The bearing block 162C has a verticallyextending opening 163C therein, there being provided aligned openings164C in the upper plate 154C and like openings in the base plate 152C,the deck 120 and the underlying flange l05 and a reinforcing plate 116disposed therebelow. The pivot pin 160C more specifically includes anenlarged head 165C at the upper end thereof which is received within theopening 164C and a lower threaded shank 166C that threadedly receives anut 167C to hold all of the parts in the assembled position.

By this construction, the entire center container bolster 150C may pivotabout the vertical axis of the pivot pin 160C along the deck 120-between first and second positions therefor. In one of the positions ofthe center container bolster 150C, the longitudinal axis thereof isaligned laterally of the railway car 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 8and 9, so as to receive and support one end of a container 50 thereon.In order to hold the center container bolster 150C in the supportingposition illustrated, the otherend of the hollow base 151C is providedwith a bolster lock pin 170C. More specifically, the end of the centercontainer bolster 150C opposite the pivot pin 160C has a reinforcing endwall 171C thereon and disposed therein is a reinforcing block 172C heldin position, such as by welding. The reinforcing block 172C has avertically arranged opening 173C therein, an enlarged opening 174C beingprovided in the upper plate 154C in alignment -with the opening 173C andlike aligned opening being provided in the base plate 152C, an openingbeing provided in the deck 120, and like openings being provided in theflange 111 and a reinforcing block 117 secured to the underside of theflange 111. More specifically, the bolster lock pin C has an enlargedhead 175C at the upper end which is received in the opening 174C and ashank 176C that extends downwardly through the aligned openingsmentioned. It will be understood that the bolster lock pin 170C can bemanually inserted in and removed from the several aligned openingsnoted, the bolster lock pin 170C serving in the position illustrated inFIG. 9 to hold and to lock the center container bolster 150C in thecontainer-supporting position thereof. As is diagrammaticallyillustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the center container bolster 150Cmay be pivoted after removal of the bolster lock pin 170C in thedirection of the arrows to a position wherein the opening 173C is abovean opening 126 in the deck 120 for the reception of the bolster lock pin170C, thereby to lock the center container bolster 150C in a positionwherein the longitudinal axis thereof is essentially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the railway car 100, all as will be explained morefully hereinafter.

. In order to restrain movement of the associated freight container 50laterally of the railway car 100, the center container bolster 150C isprovided with a guide member 180C pivotally mounted thereon. To thisend, the end wall 171C of the center container bolster 150C has mountedthereon an outwardly extending boss 181C. The guide member 180C isprovided with a pair of ears 182C which straddle the boss 181C and arepivoted thereto by a pin 183C. By this construction, the guide member180 may be pivoted between a retracted position illustrated by dashedlines in FIG. 9 and a guiding position illustrated by solid lines inFIG. 9. It will be seen that the boss 181C and the ears 182C haveopenings therein which are in alignment when the guide member 180C is inthe guiding position thereof, these openings receiving therethrough aguide lock pin 185C, the guide lock pin 185C being permanently securedto the center container bolster 150C by means of a chain 186C and havingat the outer end thereof a toggle 187C. The outer end of the guidemember 180C carries thereon a guide surface 184C which inclinesdownwardly and inwardly when the guide member 180C is in the guidingposition thereof as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 9. Finally, thereis provided in association with the guide member 180C a container lockpin 190C carried thereby and engageable in the opening 540 in the comercasting 54 of the associated freight container 50. It will beappreciated therefore that the freight container 50. It will beappreciated therefore that the freight container 50 will be locked tothe container bolster 150C in the mounted position thereof by means ofthe container lock pin 190C.

The container bolster 150C is useful not only to support the freightcontainer 50, but also to span the space between the adjacent ends ofthe guide rails 130B and 130C whereby to assist in guiding the adjacentinner wall of the tire 63 of the road semitrailer 60 during theend-loading thereof onto the railway car 100. During such end-loading ofthe road semitrailer60, it also is preferred that the guide member 180Cbe placed in the retracted position thereof by removal of the guide lockpin 185C so as to permit pivoting of the guide member 180C to the lowerand retracted position thereof.

The container bolster 150A is constructed identical to the containerbolster 150C described in detail above, whereby a further description ofthe container bolster 150A will be omitted in the interest of brevity.The container bolsters 1508 and 150D are both constructed as the mirrorimage of the container bolster 150C, but otherwise are identical inconstruction therewith, whereby a detailed description of the containerbolsters 1508 and 150D will not be given in the interest of brevity.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 11 to 13, inclusive, of the drawings, thedetails of construction of the intermediate con- FIGS. noted, theintermediate container bolster 200A extends laterally of the railway car100 and is in the container-receiving position thereof, one of theshorter freight containers 50 being illustrated in dashed linesassociated therewith and mounted thereon. Referring specifically to FIG.13, the intermediate container bolster 200A includes a generallyrectangular base 201A that is of composite structure and includes a baseplate 202A that is rectangular in shape and is substantially flat and isadapted to rest upon the upper surface of the associated deck 120.Extending upwardly from the base plate 202A is an inner sidewall 203Athat has integral therewith on the upper edge thereof an upper plate204A that overlies the base plate 202A. Extending upwardly from theouter edge of the base plate 202A is an outer sidewall 205A. The ends ofthe base 201A are closed by end walls 206A, whereby to provide a base201A of essentially hollow construction. Formed in the upper plate 204Ais an essentially rectangular opening 207A providing access to theinterior of the hollow base 201A and an inwardly and downwardly slopingwall 208A extending downwardly from the upper plate 204A and joining alongitudinally extending wall 209A in the base 201A that extendsdownwardly and joins the base plate 202A.

Pivotally mounted in the hollow base 201A is a buffer bar 210A that isgenerally L-shaped in cross section and has a length slightly less thanthe length of the opening 207A, whereby to be mountable therein.Asillustrated, the buffer bar 210A includes a positioningarm 211A andaretaining arm 212A disposed essentially normal to each other, therebeing a longitudinally extending opening 213A at the juncturethereoflThe retaining arm 212A has the inner surface thereof cut away toprovide a guide wall 214A that slopes downwardly and inwardly toward thebase 201A when the parts are in the position illustrated in FIGS. 11 to13. In order pivotally to tainer bolster 200A are theftrillustrated. Asshown in the withdrawn.

mount the buffer bar 210A within the base 201A, va shaft 215A isprovided extending through the opening 213A and through aligned openingsin the end walls 206A of the base 201A as well as through a web 216Aintegral with the base 201A and extending inwardly into a slot 217Aprovided in the buffer bar 210A.

The buffer bar 210A is pivotally mounted on andwithin the base 201A forpivotal movement between a storage position within the base 201A and aguiding position extending upwardly above the base 201A, the buffer bar210A being held irtone or the other of its positions by means of abuffer bar lock pin 220A. In order to guide and hold the lock pin 220A,the base 201A has a guideway 218A formed inthe base 201A and defined bythe base plate 202A, an opening in the wall 209A and a longitudinallyextending wall 219A in the base 201A. As illustrated, the lock pin 220Aincludes a shank 221A disposed in the guideway 218A and an operatinghandle 222A disposed exteriorly of the base 201A, the lock pin 220Abeing shiftable between a locking position illustrated by solid lines inFIG. 13 and a release position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 13.When it is desired to place and hold the buffer bar 210A in the guidingposition thereof, the lock pin 220A is withdrawn or moved to the releaseposition illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 13, and thereafter thebuffer bar 210A may be moved to the solid line'position' in FIG. 13;subsequent movement of the lock pin 220A to the locking positionillustrated in solid lines in FIG. 13 will place the outer end of theshank 221A below an abutment surface 223A on the positioning arm 211A ofthe buffer bar 210A, thus to hold the buffer bar 210A in the positionillustrated in solid lines in FIG. 13. If it is desired to move thebuffer bar 210A to the storage position illustrated by dashed lines inFIG. 13, the lock pin 220A is shifted to the release positionillustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 13, after which the buffer bar 210Amay be pivoted to the storage position illustrated by dashed lines inFIG. 13. Thereafter the lock pin 220A is returned to the lockingposition thereof illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 13, whereby to placethe outer end of the shank 221A in position to engage a second abutmentsurface 224A on the positioning arm 211A,

the parts in the assembled position.

s thus to prevent movement of the buffer bar 210A out of retractedposition thereof until the lock pin 220A" is One 'end of theintermediate container "bolster 200A .is pivotally "secured to the deck1'20 by means 'ot' a pivot pin 230A, see FIG. 12 of the drawings.Asjillustrated, the adjacent end of the hollow base 201A is providedwith an opening 234A in'the upperplate 204A and like openings areprovided in the other parts of the hollow base 201 and in the deck 120and the underlying flange and thereirifor'cing plate 116disposedtherebelow. The pivot pin 230A more specifi'cally includes anenlarged head 235A at the upper end-thereof which is. received withinthe opening 2 34A and a"I6wer threaded shank 236A that threadedlyreceives 'anut 237A to hold all 0 By this construction, the entireintermediate .containe bolster 200A may pivot about the vertical axis ofthe pivot pin 230A along the deck 120 between firstand second positionsthereof. In one of 'the positions of the, intermediate container bolster200A, the longitudinal axis thereof is aligned laterally of the railwaycar 100 as illustrated to the left in FIGS."1 and 2 and as illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 11 to 1'3',' iii clusive, sea: to receive and support oneend of a container 50 thereon. In order to holdthe intermediatecontainer bolster 200A'Jin the supporting position illustrated, theother end of the hollow base 201A is provided with a bolster'lock pin240A, a reinforcing block (notshown) being provided in theend of thehollow base 201A opposite the pivot pin 230A and having a verticallyarranged opening therein'in alignment with an enlarged opening 244A inthe upper:{ plate 204A- and a like aligned opening in the baseplate202A. The bolsterlock pin 240A has an enlarged head'24SA at the upperend which-is received in the opening 244A and a shank 246A that extendsdownwardly through the aligned openingsmerl tionedilt will be understoodthat the bolster lock pin 240A can bema'nually inserted in and removedfrom-"the aligned -'openings -rrientioned, the bolsterlock pin 240Aserving in the position illu strated in FIGS. 11 and 12 to holdltheinter mediate'co'ntainer bolster 200A in the container-supportingposition thereof. As is illustrated to the left in FIG. 2 of thedrawings, the inter mediate container bolster 200A may be pivoted afterremoval of the lock pin 240A inthe directions of the arrows to a'position wherein the openings therein are above an opening 1 26 in thedeck 120 for the reception of the bolster lock pin 240A, thereby to lockthe intermediate container bolster-200A in a position wherein thelongitudinal axis thereof is essentially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the railway car 100, all as illustrated on the'right-hand endofthe railway car 100 in' FIG. 2 and as will be explained more fullyhereinaftenfi In order to restrain movement of the associated freightcon-.

tainer 50 laterally of the railway car-100, the intermediate containerbolster 200A is provided with a guide member 250A pivotally mountedthereon. To this end, the endwall 206A opposite the pivot'pin 230A hasmounted thereon an outwardly extending boss 251A. The guide member 250Ais provided with a pair of ears 252A whichstraddle the boss 251A and arepivoted thereto by a pin 253A. By this construction, he guide;

member 250A may be pivoted between a retracted position il-- lustratedby solid lines in the upper portion of FIG. 11 and by dashed lines inFIG. 12 and a guiding position illustrated by solid lines in the lowerportion of FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12. It will be seen that the boss 251Aand the ears 252A f'have' openings therein which are in alignment whenthefgu'ide member 250A is in. the guiding position thereof, theseopenings receiving therethrough a guide lock pin 255A; the

guide lock pin 255A being permanently secured to the iriter-' mediatecontainer bolster 200A by means of a chain 256A and:

having at the outer end thereof a toggle 257A. The outer end of theguide member250A carries thereon a guide surface:- 254A which inclinesdownwardly and inwardly'when the guide 11 member 250A is in the guidingposition thereof as illustrated.

in the lower portion of FIG. 11 and by the solid line positions of FIGS.12 and 13. Finally, there is provided in association.

with the guide member ZSOTA aYOntainer lock pin 260A carried thereby andengageable with the opening 54a in the corner casting 54 of theassociated freight container 50. It will be appreciated therefore thatthe freight container 50 will be locked to the intermediate containerbolster 200A in the mounted position thereof by means of the containerlock pin 260A.

The intermediate container bolster 200A is useful not only to supportthe freight container 50, but also to span the space between theadjacent ends of the guide rails such as the guide rails 130C and 130Das illustrated to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby to assist inguiding the adjacent inner wall of the tire 63 on the road semitrailer60 during the end-loading thereof onto the railway car 100. During suchend-loading of the road semitrailer 60, it also is preferred that theguide member 250A be placed in the retracted position thereof by removalof the guide lock pin 255A so as to permit pivoting of the guide member250A to the lower and retracted position thereof.

The intermediate container bolster 200B is the mirror image of theintermediate container bolster 200A, but otherwise is identical inconstruction therewith, whereby a detailed description of theintermediate container bolster 2008 will not be given in the interest ofbrevity, the parts of the container bolster 200B that are like the partsof the container-bolster 200A having like reference numerals appliedthereto with the suffix B added thereto.

In order to facilitate the side loading of the containers 50 and 55 ontothe associated container bolsters 150 when the container bolsters 150are arranged laterally of the railway car 100, a plurality of sidetransfer plates 270 have been provided, one of the side transfer plates270 being provided between each pair of laterally arranged containerbolsters 150 and between each pair of laterally arranged intermediatecontainer bolsters 200. Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 11 and 12 of thedrawings, it will be seen that the side transfer plates 270 each includea generally rectangular hollow base 271 which in turn is formed of abase plate 272, an inner sidewall 273, an upper plate 274 and an outersidewall 275, all joining to provide the hollow rectangular base 271.The outer sidewall 275 extends upwardly above the upper plate 274 andhas integral therewith a downwardly and inwardly inclined guide wall 277that merges into a retainer wall 278 that is generally verticallyarranged and is joined to the upper plate 274.

In order removably to position the side transfer plates 270 upon thedeck 120, there is provided a pair of plate lock pins 280 each includingan enlarged head 281 and an elongated shank 282. Associated with each ofthe lock pins 280 is a bearing block 383 mounted in and essentiallyclosing one end of the side transfer plate 270 and being fixedly securedthereto, as by welding, and having a vertically arranged opening thereinfor receiving the lock pin 280 therethrough. A slightly enlarged opening284 is formed in the upper plate 274 to receive the enlarged head 281,the opening 284 is in vertical alignment with the opening through thebearing block 283 and being in alignment with a like opening in the baseplate 272 and an opening 127 in the deck 120. By this arrangement, theside transfer plates 270 can be fixedly positioned upon the deck 120during the side loading of one of the containers 50 or 55 thereacross asthe case may be.

When it is desired to place the container bolsters 150 and 200 inpositions wherein the longitudinal axes thereof are arrangedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railway car 100,it is convenient to remove the side transfer plates 270 from theoperative positions thereof and to place them in storage wells 290provided therefor in the deck 120, see FIGS. 2, and 7 of the drawings.Each of the wells 290 includes vertically extending sidewalls 291carrying on the lower edges therein inturned flanges 292 which in turnsupport a bottom wall 293, the well 290 illustrated in FIG. 7 beingarranged to accommodate two of the side transfer plates 270, three suchwells being provided, one each associated with the guide rails 130A,130C, and 130D. Similar wells 295 are provided adjacent to each end ofthe railway car to accommodate but a single side transfer plate 270.

The several different methods of utilizing the freight transportationsystem of the present invention will now be described in detail. Therailway car 100 may be used to transport any one of the followingcombinations of freight containers and road semitrailers, namely: fourof the 20 feet freight containers 55; two of the 20 feet freightcontainers 50, together with one of the 40 feet freight containers 55;two of the road semitrailers 60; one of the 40 feet freight containers55 and one of the road semitrailers 60; and two of the 20 feet freightcontainers 50 and one of the road semitrailers 60. The abovecombinations of containers and road semitrailers may also be moved ontothe railway car 100 in one of several ways; for example, the freightcontainers 50 and 55 may be placed thereon by an overhead crane or maybe shifted thereonto from the side by a side transfer mechanism; theroad semitrailer 60 may be end-loaded or circus loaded or may be loadedby means of an overhead crane.

Considering first the loading illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, the parts there illustrated are in the positions in which theyare placed when two of the 20 feet freight containers 50 are to beloaded onto one end of the railway car 100 and one of the 40 feetfreight containers 55 is to be loaded onto the other end of the railwaycar 100. With the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,the freight containers 50 and 55 may be loaded into position either byan overhead crane or by a side transfer operation.

Assuming that the freight containers 50 and 55 are to be loaded onto therailway car 100 by means of an overhead crane, it will be noted that theend container bolsters 150A and 1508 are placed in the positions whereinthey are disposed laterally of the railway car 100, Le, the bolster lockpins 170A and 170B or disposed in the openings in the deck 120. Thisplaces the upper surfaces of the bolster bases 151A and 1518 in the samehorizontal plane and in longitudinal alignment. The center containerbolsters C and 150D are likewise placed in the positions thereofdisposed laterally of the railway car 100, the bolster lock pins C and170D being disposed in the associated'openings 125 in the deck 120. Andlikewise the intermediate bolsters 200A and 2003 disposed to the left inFIGS. 1 and 2 are also placed in the laterally extending positionsthereof with the bolster lock pins 240A and 240B in the associatedopenings 125 in the deck 120. In conjunction with the intermediatebolsters 200A and 200B, it is noted that the buffer bars 210A and 210B,it is noted that the buffer bars 210A and 210B, respectively, are placedin the guiding positions thereof and are held therein by the buffer barlock pins 220A and 2208, respectively. The side transfer plates 270 maybe either in the operative positions thereof or in the storage positionsthereof, the placement of the side transfer plates 270 being of noconsequence in this arrangement of the parts. Likewise, the intermediatecontainer bolsters 200A and 200B disposed to the right of the railwaycar 100 may be either in the container supporting positions or in theguiding positions thereof, these parts actually being illustrated in theguiding positions in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings; it is necessary onlythat the buffer bars 210A and 2108 of this set of intermediate containerbolsters be in the storage positions thereof.

It also is pointed out that the hitch mechanisms 140 and 145 are in thecollapsed or retracted positions thereof so as not to interfere with theplacement of the containers 50 and 55 on the container bolsters.

Finally, it is pointed out that the guide members and the guide members250 are all in the down or retracted positions thereof, the associatedguide lock pins and 255 having been removed to permit such positioningof the guide members 180 and 250, respectively.

Assuming next that one of the 20 feet freight containers 50 is to belowered into position by a crane, and specifically the freight container50 disposed to the left in FIG, 1, it will be noted that the guide walls157A and 1578, as well as the guide walls 214A and 2148 on the fourcooperating container bolsters are all in positionto direct and guidethe freight container 50 into the proper position. When the freightcontainer 50 is in the proper position upon the four cooperatingcontainer bolsters, the guide members 180A and 180B and the guidemembers 250A and 2508 are moved into the guiding positions thereof, andthe guide lock pins 185 and 255 are inserted to hold the parts in thesepositions. This will also serve to place the container lock pins 190Aand 190B and the container lock pins 260A and 2608 in the cooperatingopenings 54a in the base of the container 50, thus to lock the container50 to the several container bolsters 150A, 1505, 200A and 2008.

It will be understood that the intermediate freight container 50 will bemoved by a crane into an operative position upon the associatedcooperating container bolsters 200A, 2008, 150C and 150D, after whichthe associated guide members 250A. 2508. 180C and 180D are moved intothe operative positions and locked therein by the appropriate associatedguide lock pins 255A, 2558, 185C and 185D, the associated container lockpins 260A, 2608, 190C and 190D being also placed in the lockingpositions thereof with respect to the freight container 50.

Next, the 40 feet freight container 55 is in a like manner moved intoposition upon the cooperating container bolsters 150A, 150B, 150C and150D, the guide surfaces 157A, 1578, 157C and 157D aiding in guiding thefreight container 55 to the proper position upon the several containerbolsters. Thereafter the guide members 180A, 1808, 180C and'l80D aremoved into the operative positions with respect to the freight container55, the container lock pins 190A, 1908, 190C and 190D being also placedin the operative positions with respect to the freight container 55. Inthis manner, the freight container 55 is locked to the four cooperatingcontainer bolsters.

Assuming now that the freight containers 50 and 55 are to be loaded ontothe railway car 100 by a side transfer operation, the several bolstersare first arranged in the positions illustrated in FIG. 2 and asdescribed-above with respect to the crane loading or overhead loading ofthe freight containers 50 and 55 onto the railway car 100. If thecontainers are to be side transferred onto the railway car 100 from theside thereof disposed to the top in FIG. 2, for example, the theguidemembers 180A and 180C, 180D, 250A and 250B disposed on the otherside or to the bottom in FIG. 2 are placed in the operative positionsthereof, and the several guide lock pins 185A,

185C, 185D, 255A and 2558 are placed in the locking positions thereof.It also is necessary to remove the side transfer plates 270 from theseveral wells 290 and 295 and to place the side transfer plates 270 inpositions between laterally aligned pairs of the container bolsters. Forexample, one of the side transfer plates 270 is placed between thelaterally aligned bolsters 150A and 1508 at the lefthand end of therailway car 100 as viewed in FIG. 2, the upper surface of the base 271thereof being in alignment with the upper surfaces of the bases 151A and1518; likewise, the retainer wall 278 is in lateral alignment with theretainer walls 158A and 1588. It will be understood that the sidetransfer plate 270 will be held in position by the plate lock pins 280engaging in the associated openings 127 in the deck 120. Side transferplates 2 70 are also provided between the laterally aligned pairs ofintermediate container bolsters 200A and 2008 disposed on the lefthandportion of the railway car 100 as viewed in FIG. 2 and also between thecenter bolsters 150C and 150D and the end bolsters 150A and 150Bdisposed at the right-hand end of the railway car 100. The freightcontainers 50 and 55 are then slid onto the several container bolsters,150C and 150D having the side guide walls 159A, 1598, 159C and 159Dthereon which tend to center and guide the freight containers 50 and 55during the side transfer thereof onto the several cooperating containerbolsters. The freight containers 50 and 55 eventually bump up againstthe guide members 180 and 250 that are-in the operative positions,thereby to stop side transfer of the freight containers. The guidemembers 180 and 250 positioned on the side of the railway car disposedto the top iii FIG. 2 are then moved into the upper or operativepositions and are secured therein by means of the associated lock pin185 and 255, thus to position the freight containers 50 and 55 upon thecooperating container bolsters. In addition, the several container lockpins 190 and 260 are now in locking positions within the openings 5442,for example, in the con: tainers 50, thereby to lock the containers onthe associated container bolsters. I P.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the positions of the partsto accommodate the end-loading of the road semitrailer 60 onto therailway car 100 are there'illustrated. First, it is noted that the sidetransferplates 270 have been removed from the operative positions thet'eiof and placed in the storage wells 290 and 295 provided therefor.As'sirming that the container bolsters were initially disposed laterallyof the railway car 100, the bolster lock" pins 170A and 1708 of therighthand end bolsters A and 15.08 are removed and these bolsters arepivoted about the pins A and 160B, respectively, to positions extendinglongitudinally of the railway car 100, after which the bolster lock pinsA and 1705 are reinserted in the bolsters and into openings 126 in thedeck 120. If the guide members A and 1808 have been in the operativepositions thereof, the guide lock pins A and 1858 are removed and theguide members 180A and 1805 are pivoted to the lower or retractedpositions thereof. With the parts in these positions,-it will beappreciated that the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 155A and 1558 arein longitudinal alignment with the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 132Don the right-hand pair of guide rails 130D, and more particularlysubstantially span the space between-the right-hand ends of the guiderails 130D and the adjacent or right-hand of the railway car 100. A

The intermediate bolsters 200A and 2008 are also moved from positionsextending laterally of the railway car. 100, if necessary, and the lockpins 240A and 2408 inserted in openings 126 in the deck 120 to hold theintermediate bolsters 200A and 2008 in the positions illustrated in FIG.5. The guide members 250A and 2508 are also placed in the retractedposition by removing the guide lock pins 255A and 2558, thus to placethe parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The outer surface ofthe walls 205A and 2058 are now in longitudinal alignment with the outersurfaces of the sidewalls 132C and 132D of the guide rails 130C and130D, respective ly, the intermediate bolsters 200A and 2008 servingessentially to span the distance between the adjacent ends of alignedpairs of the guide rails 130C and 130D.

The parts are now in a position to end-load the road semitrailer 60 fromthe right-hand end of the railway car 100 asviewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Theroad semitrailer 60 is backed onto the railway car 100 from a ramp orbridging structure on; an adjacent railway car, the inner wheels 63having the sides thereof guided in turnby the outer surfaces of the endcom tainer bolsters 150A and 1508, by the outer surfaces of the guiderails 130D, the outer's'urfaces of the intermediate. bolsters 200A and2008 and finally by the outer surfaces of e the guide rails 130C.Preferably, the hitch mechanism 140 is raised by means of an associatedtractor (not shown) to an operative position and the kingpin on the roadsemitrailer 60a is transferred fromthe'fifth-wheel mechanism on thetractor. to the fifth wlieel mechanism 142 on the hitch mechanism't-i140, thus to place the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 4.-

It will be understood that the container bolstersl50A;.: 150B, 150C,150D, 200A and 2008 on the lefthand end of the 5 railway car 100 asviewed in FIG. 2 may also be arranged in: longitudinally extendingpositions, whereby also to serve asai guides for the inner wheels 63 ofthe associated roads semitrailer 60, whereby a road semitrailer 60 mayalso be? mounted on the lefthand end'of the railway car as viewed in?FIG. 2 and positioned thereon by end-loading fromthe right-' 1 hand endof the railway car 100. l

From the above, it will be seen that there has been provided a freighttransportation system and parts therefor that fulfill all of the objectsset forth hereinabove.

While there have been described what are at present considered to becertain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended tocover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A freight transportation system comprising a railway car includinglongitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, alongitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlyingsaid rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers onsaid deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide railsrespectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distanceso that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sidesof the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs oflongitudinally extending center guide rails respectively mounted on saiddeck between said end guide-rails with the outer edges of said centerguide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide railsand thereby spaced-apart a distance to guide'the inner sides of the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted 'on said deck, the ends of saidpairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deckbeing spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of thepairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other beinglongitudinally spaced-apart a second predetermined distance, the ends ofsaid pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of center guiderails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart athird predetermined distance, sets of end container bolstersrespectively mountable in first and second positions in the spacesbetween the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end ofsaid deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially tospan the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and theadjacent end of said deck and providing guide surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereofhaving the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable infirst and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacentpairs of said center guide rails, each of said sets of center containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheelsof road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of saidsets of center bolsters in the second positions thereof having theouteredges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely ofsaid deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, andsets of intermediate container bolsters respectively mountable in firstand second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid end guide rails, each of said sets of intermediate containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with theouter edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid end guide rails and said center guide rails and providing guidesurfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck,the bolsters in each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters inthe second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectivelyin alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supportingone end of a freight container thereon, said end container bolsters andsaid center container bolsters each including a generally rectangularbase having an M- upper surface and one longitudinally extending sidethat is disposed in alignment with .theouter-side of the associatedguide rail when said bolster is in the first position'thereof, and

a retaining wall fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from saidbase adjacent to said one side thereof for engaging the side of theassociated container to retain it on said bolster, each of said 7intermediate container bolsters including a generally rectangular basehaving an upper stirface and one longitudinally extending side that isdisposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guide railwhen said intermediate container bolster is in the first positionthereof, and a buffer bar pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned basefor pivotal movement between a storageposition extending upwardly abovesaid last-inentioned base for engaging the side of an associatedcontainer to retain it on said intermediate container bolster. 1

2. The freight transportation systemset'f'orth in claim I, wherein saidend guide railsand said center guide rails have substantially the samelength, and said second predetermined distance is equal substantially tosaid third predetermined distance and is equal substantially to twicethe first predetermined distancev 3. The freight transportation systemset fo'rth'in-"claim Land further comprising-a first hitch' mechanismmounted 'on said deck between one pair of said end guide rails adjacentto one endof said car, said first hitch mechanism being movable betweena retracted position substantially disposed between said guide rails andan erected position for engaging the fifthwheel mechanism of a roadsemitrailer mounted on said deck,

' and a second hitch mechanism mounted on said deck between the pair ofsaid center guide rails disposedaway from said first hitch mechanism anddisposed toward said center container bolsters, said second hitchmechanism being movable between a retractedposition substantiallydisposed between said guide comprising a generally rectangular basehaving one longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignmentwith the outer side of theassociated guide rails when said bolster is inthe spanning position thereof, a pivot pin mounted on said base adjacentto one end thereof and pivotally movable on the associated deck toaccommodate pivotal movement of said bolster between the spanning andsupport positions thereof, the outer end of said base having an openingtherein alignable with one of the first openings in the associated decklocated to place said bolster in the spanning position thereof and withone of the second openings in the associated deck to place said bolsterin the supporting position thereof, a bolster lock pin engageable insaid bolster opening and in a selected one of the openings in theassociated deck securely to mount said bolster in the selected one ofits positions, said base having an opening in the top thereof adjacentto said one longitudinally extending side, a buffer bar pivotallymounted on said base within said opening for pivotal movement between astorage position within said base and a guiding position extendingupwardly above said base, said buffer b'ar having a longitudinallyextending abutment surface for engaging the side of 'an' as- I sociatedcontainer to retain it on said bolster, a bufferbar lock pin shiftablymounted in said base-and engageablewithrsaid buffer bar to hold saidbuffer bar in a selected one of its positions, a guide member pivotallymounted on said other end of said base and pivotal between a retractedposition wherein it is disposed below the upper surface of said base anda guiding position wherein it extends upwardly above said base and inposition to engage said side of an associated container, and a guidelock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable 15 with saidguide member for holding said guide member in guiding position thereof.

5. The Container bolster set forth in claim 4, wherein said buffer barhas a guide surface thereon extending from adjacent the upper edgethereof inwardly and downwardly toward the upper surface of said basewhen said buffer bar is in the guided position thereof.

6. A freight transportation system comprising a railway car includinglongitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, alongitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlyingsaid rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers onsaid deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide railsrespectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distanceso that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sidesof the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs oflongitudinally extending, center guide rails respectively mounted onsaid deck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of saidcenter guide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guiderails and thereby spaced-apart a distance to engage the inner sides ofthe road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends ofsaid pairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deckbeing spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of thepairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other beinglongitudinally spaced-apart a second predetermined distance, the ends ofsaid pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of said centerguide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-aparta third predetermined distance, sets of end container bolstersrespectively mountable in first and second positions in the spacesbetween the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end ofsaid deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially tospan the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and theadjacent end of said deck and providing guiding surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereofhaving the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable infirst and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacentpairs of said center guide rails, each of sad sets of center containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheelsof road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of saidsets of said center bolsters in the second positions thereof having theouter edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, said end container bolsters and said center container bolsterseach including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface andone longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with theouter side of the associated guide rail when said bolster is in thefirst position thereof, and a retaining wall fixedly mounted on andextending upwardly from said base adjacent to said one side thereof forengaging the side of the associated container to retain it on saidbolster, and sets of intermediate container bolsters respectivelymountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the endsof adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails,each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to spanthe distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide railsand said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the second positionsthereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment witheach other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freightcontainer thereon, each of said intermediate con tainer bolsterscontaining a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and onelongitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with theouter side of the associated guide rail when said intermediate containerbolster is in the first position thereof, and a buffer bar pivotallymounted on said last-mentioned base for pivotal movement between astorage position within said last-mentioned base and a guiding positionextending upwardly above said last-mentioned base for engaging the sideof an associated container to retain it on said intermediate containerbolster, and side transfer plates each respectively mountable betweenone of said sets of container bolsters when said container bolsters arein the second positions thereof, each of said side transfer platesspanning the distance between the adjacent ends of the associated set ofcontainer bolsters and having the upper surface thereof in horizontalalignment with the upper surfaces of the associated container bolstersto facilitate the sliding of a container onto said container bolsters.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,552,325 Da ed January 5, 1971 Inventor-(x) Samuel H. Enochian It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 13, Claim 1, line 63, after "rails" insert and said center guiderails Column 15, line 46, change "sad" to said Signed and sealed this6th day of April 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, JR. Attesting OffioerCommissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (IO-69)

1. A freight transportation system comprising a railway car includinglongitudinally spaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, alongitudinally extending deck bridging said running gears and overlyingsaid rail wheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers onsaid deck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide railsrespectively mounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distanceso that the outer edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sidesof the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs oflongitudinally extending center guide rails respectively mounted on saiddeck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of said centerguide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide railsand thereby spaced-apart a distance to guide the inner sides of the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends of said pairsof end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deck beingspaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of the pairsof said center guide rails disposed toward each other beinglongitudinally spaced-apart a second preDetermined distance, the ends ofsaid pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of center guiderails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-apart athird predetermined distance, sets of end container bolstersrespectively mountable in first and second positions in the spacesbetween the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end ofsaid deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially tospan the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and theadjacent end of said deck and providing guide surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereofhaving the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable infirst and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacentpairs of said center guide rails, each of said sets of center containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheelsof road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of saidsets of center bolsters in the second positions thereof having the outeredges thereof respectively in alignment with each other transversely ofsaid deck for supporting one end of a freight container thereon, andsets of intermediate container bolsters respectively mountable in firstand second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid end guide rails, each of said sets of intermediate containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid end guide rails and said center guide rails and providing guidesurfaces for the road wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck,the bolsters in each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters inthe second positions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectivelyin alignment with each other transversely of said deck for supportingone end of a freight container thereon, said end container bolsters andsaid center container bolsters each including a generally rectangularbase having an upper surface and one longitudinally extending side thatis disposed in alignment with the outer side of the associated guiderail when said bolster is in the first position thereof, and a retainingwall fixedly mounted on and extending upwardly from said base adjacentto said one side thereof for engaging the side of the associatedcontainer to retain it on said bolster, each of said intermediatecontainer bolsters including a generally rectangular base having anupper surface and one longitudinally extending side that is disposed inalignment with the outer side of the associated guide rail when saidintermediate container bolster is in the first position thereof, and abuffer bar pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned base for pivotalmovement between a storage position extending upwardly above saidlast-mentioned base for engaging the side of an associated container toretain it on said intermediate container bolster.
 2. The freighttransportation system set forth in claim 1, wherein said end guide railsand said center guide rails have substantially the same length, and saidsecond predetermined distance is equal substantially to said thirdpredetermined distance and is equal substantially to twice the firstpredetermined distance.
 3. The freight transportation system set forthin claiM 1, and further comprising a first hitch mechanism mounted onsaid deck between one pair of said end guide rails adjacent to one endof said car, said first hitch mechanism being movable between aretracted position substantially disposed between said guide rails andan erected position for engaging the fifth-wheel mechanism of a roadsemitrailer mounted on said deck, and a second hitch mechanism mountedon said deck between the pair of said center guide rails disposed awayfrom said first hitch mechanism and disposed toward said centercontainer bolsters, said second hitch mechanism being movable between aretracted position substantially disposed between said guide rails andan erected position for engaging the fifth-wheel mechanism of a roadsemitrailer mounted on said deck.
 4. A container bolster for use with arailway car including a deck having first and second openings thereinand pairs of longitudinally aligned guide rails mounted on the deck,said bolster being disposed on the deck and having a spanning positionfor spanning the space between the ends of longitudinally aligned guiderails mounted on the deck and having a support position for supportingone end of a container, said bolster comprising a generally rectangularbase having one longitudinally extending side that is disposed inalignment with the outer side of the associated guide rails when saidbolster is in the spanning position thereof, a pivot pin mounted on saidbase adjacent to one end thereof and pivotally movable on the associateddeck to accommodate pivotal movement of said bolster between thespanning and support positions thereof, the outer end of said basehaving an opening therein alignable with one of the first openings inthe associated deck located to place said bolster in the spanningposition thereof and with one of the second openings in the associateddeck to place said bolster in the supporting position thereof, a bolsterlock pin engageable in said bolster opening and in a selected one of theopenings in the associated deck securely to mount said bolster in theselected one of its positions, said base having an opening in the topthereof adjacent to said one longitudinally extending side, a buffer barpivotally mounted on said base within said opening for pivotal movementbetween a storage position within said base and a guiding positionextending upwardly above said base, said buffer bar having alongitudinally extending abutment surface for engaging the side of anassociated container to retain it on said bolster, a buffer bar lock pinshiftably mounted in said base and engageable with said buffer bar tohold said buffer bar in a selected one of its positions, a guide memberpivotally mounted on said other end of said base and pivotal between aretracted position wherein it is disposed below the upper surface ofsaid base and a guiding position wherein it extends upwardly above saidbase and in position to engage said side of an associated container, anda guide lock pin shiftably mounted in said base and engageable with saidguide member for holding said guide member in guiding position thereof.5. The container bolster set forth in claim 4, wherein said buffer barhas a guide surface thereon extending from adjacent the upper edgethereof inwardly and downwardly toward the upper surface of said basewhen said buffer bar is in the guided position thereof.
 6. A freighttransportation system comprising a railway car including longitudinallyspaced-apart running gears having rail wheels, a longitudinallyextending deck bridging said running gears and overlying said railwheels for supporting both road semitrailers and containers on saiddeck, pairs of longitudinally extending end guide rails respectivelymounted on said deck and laterally spaced-apart a distance so that theouter edges thereof are in position to guide the inner sides of the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, pairs oflongitudinally extending center guide rails Respectively mounted on saiddeck between said end guide rails with the outer edges of said centerguide rails in alignment with the outer edges of said end guide railsand thereby spaced-apart a distance to engage the inner sides of theroad wheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the ends of saidpairs of end guide rails disposed adjacent to the ends of said deckbeing spaced therefrom a first predetermined distance, the ends of thepairs of said center guide rails disposed toward each other beinglongitudinally spaced-apart a second predetermined distance, the ends ofsaid pairs of end guide rails and the ends of said pairs of said centerguide rails disposed toward each other being longitudinally spaced-aparta third predetermined distance, sets of end container bolstersrespectively mountable in first and second positions in the spacesbetween the outer ends of said end guide rails and the adjacent end ofsaid deck, each of said sets of end container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said end guide rails substantially tospan the distance between the outer ends of said end guide rails and theadjacent end of said deck and providing guiding surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of end container bolsters in the second positions thereofhaving the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, sets of center container bolsters respectively mountable infirst and second positions in the spaces between the ends of adjacentpairs of said center guide rails, each of sad sets of center containerbolsters in the first positions thereof having the outer edges thereofrespectively in alignment with the outer edges of said guide railssubstantially to span the distance between the ends of adjacent pairs ofsaid center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the road wheelsof road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in each of saidsets of said center bolsters in the second positions thereof having theouter edges thereof respectively in alignment with each othertransversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freight containerthereon, said end container bolsters and said center container bolsterseach including a generally rectangular base having an upper surface andone longitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with theouter side of the associated guide rail when said bolster is in thefirst position thereof, and a retaining wall fixedly mounted on andextending upwardly from said base adjacent to said one side thereof forengaging the side of the associated container to retain it on saidbolster, and sets of intermediate container bolsters respectivelymountable in first and second positions in the spaces between the endsof adjacent pairs of said end guide rails and said center guide rails,each of said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the firstpositions thereof having the outer edges thereof respectively inalignment with the outer edges of said guide rails substantially to spanthe distance between the ends of adjacent pairs of said end guide railsand said center guide rails and providing guide surfaces for the roadwheels of road semitrailers mounted on said deck, the bolsters in eachof said sets of intermediate container bolsters in the second positionsthereof having the outer edges thereof respectively in alignment witheach other transversely of said deck for supporting one end of a freightcontainer thereon, each of said intermediate container bolsterscontaining a generally rectangular base having an upper surface and onelongitudinally extending side that is disposed in alignment with theouter side of the associated guide rail when said intermediate containerbolster is in the first position thereof, and a buffer bar pivotallymounted on said last-mentioned base For pivotal movement between astorage position within said last-mentioned base and a guiding positionextending upwardly above said last-mentioned base for engaging the sideof an associated container to retain it on said intermediate containerbolster, and side transfer plates each respectively mountable betweenone of said sets of container bolsters when said container bolsters arein the second positions thereof, each of said side transfer platesspanning the distance between the adjacent ends of the associated set ofcontainer bolsters and having the upper surface thereof in horizontalalignment with the upper surfaces of the associated container bolstersto facilitate the sliding of a container onto said container bolsters.